PLEASE NOTE: This event has already occurred.
Date/Time
Date(s) - 04/16/2026
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Location
Giertz Gallery at Parkland College
Categories
The 58th Annual Juried Student Art and Design Exhibition will be featured at the Giertz Gallery at Parkland College beginning Monday, April 13.
Audiences will enjoy this impressive body of student work, which includes photography, painting, drawing, figure drawing, metals, three-dimensional design, two-dimensional design, color theory, graphic design, and ceramics. Parkland Art and Design faculty will select approximately 180 works from over 300 entries for this year’s exhibit. Students taking art classes in the current academic year, beginning with summer 2025, submitted artwork.
“This student exhibition is an exciting culmination of so much creative discovery and hard work,” Art faculty member Peg Shaw said. “I’m excited for the students to be able to share their accomplishments with their families and friends who have supported them along the way. A beautiful way to end the year!”
A reception will be held on Thursday, April 16 from 5:30–7:30 p.m. in the Giertz Gallery. It will feature a ceremony at 6:15 p.m. recognizing students with merit awards, purchase awards, monetary award certificates, and scholarships for their remarkable artwork. Parkland Vice President for Academic Services Nancy Sutton will give opening remarks.
Monetary awards include the Parkland President’s Award for Excellence in Two-Dimensional Artwork, Parkland President’s Award of Excellence in Three-Dimensional Artwork, the David M. and Shirley A. Jones Student Art Award, the Metals Award for Jewelry/Metalsmithing, the Arts, Media, and Social Sciences Chair Award, the Parkland Art and Design Faculty Award, the Chris Berti Award for Excellence in Ceramics, and the Blair Kling Memorial Art Award.
Additionally, Melissa’s Gift Comrades in Art Award will be awarded, provided by the local artist group in memory of former Parkland art student Melissa Lynch. Parkland Art and Design scholarships include the Don Lake Art Scholarship, the Underwood-Alger Scholarship, the Robert Ralph Ford Memorial Art Scholarship, the Feldman Art Ceramics Scholarship, the Lykins Family Art Scholarship, and the Juanita Gammon Graphic Design Scholarship.
Merit awardees, certificate winners, and scholarship recipients retain possession of their work, while purchase awards become part of the Parkland College Student Art Collection.
“Art and Design students beginning their careers at Parkland College can have their new artwork hung on the gallery walls,” Gallery Director Lisa Costello said. “Entering the show provides experiences that opens the door to real-world professional practices—like working with galleries, preparing pieces for exhibition, and participating in the jurying process. These are key milestones for any emerging artist. Not only does this opportunity help build an impressive resume, but it also sets students up for success as they establish themselves in the art world, whether they launch their career right away or transfer to a four-year college.”
Please visit the Giertz Gallery for a “sneak peek” of this exhibition during 40 North: Champaign County Arts Council’s Boneyard Arts Festival on Saturday, April 11, from noon until 3 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided.
The exhibition is open until Saturday, May 9. Spring gallery hours are Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturday, noon to 3 p.m.
Once on campus, use the M6 parking lot on the north side of campus. Enter through Door X-7, turn left, and follow the ramps uphill to the highest point on the first floor to find the gallery.
Giertz Gallery acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council. All events in the accessible gallery are free and open to the public. Parkland College is a Section 504/ADA-compliant institution.
For accommodation, email accessibilityservices@parkland.edu or call 217/353-2338.
For more information on the exhibit, please call the gallery office at 217/351-2485 or visit parkland.edu/gallery.
Please remember that events may be canceled or rescheduled last minute due to unpredictable weather or other factors. We encourage you to reach out to event organizers before heading out to an event to verify it is still happening.
